Mumbai Crime Branch has busted a fake milk racket in Goregaon West and arrested two people for selling their sealed branded milk packets to consumers. The operation was carried out by Crime Branch Unit 11 in collaboration with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and led to the seizure of hundreds of litres of allegedly adulterated milk and equipment to reseal milk pouches.
The case has once again raised the issue of food safety and consumer protection in Mumbai; investigators suspect that the racket has been in business with adulterated milk to local markets for several years.
Tip-Off Leads to Raid
According to police officials, the raid was conducted at Ankur Building in Prem Nagar on Link Road, Goregaon West after the Crime Branch received specific intelligence about an illegal operation involving branded milk packets.
Based on the information, units from Unit 11, along with FDA officials, raided the premises and found a well-organized setup to adulterate milk before it reached consumers.
The accused were found to have been using equipment that would reseal milk pouches after they altered their contents, police said.
How the Alleged Racket Operated
Investigators said that they had a systematic process to maximise profits.
According to the police, they would first open sealed branded milk packets, add water to dilute the milk, and then use specialised sealing machines to reseal the pouches so that they appeared untouched. The adulterated packets were then sold in the market as genuine branded products.
Diversified and fraudulently selling milk products from trusted brands might have been done by the operation, said the chief executive.
Now, they are trying to determine how long the racket has been running and when retailers or distributors were aware that the milk had been tampered with before reaching customers.
Large Quantity of Adulterated Milk Seized
Authorities recovered about 575 litres of adulterated milk and 224 empty branded milk pouches, sealing equipment, and other materials they believe to have been used in the illegal operation.
Police also seized a mobile phone belonging to one of the accused, which they hope will be used for the investigation. Officers hope that the device will assist them in identifying suppliers, customers, and people that might have been involved in the network.
The total value of the seized goods is estimated at Rs 70,404.
FIR Registered Against the Accused
After the operation, police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the two accused under a number of laws.
The charges cover relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Essential Commodities Act, and the Food Safety and Standards Act, and are indicative of the seriousness of food adulteration and public health.
The accused will be questioned further, and the full extent of the operation is expected to be uncovered, investigators say.
Investigation Expands
The Mumbai Crime Branch is now focusing on tracing the racket's distribution network to determine where the adulterated milk was supplied and whether similar activities were taking place elsewhere in the city.
Moreover, investigators are looking into whether suppliers and distributors were involved in the operation.
The FDA will analyze samples of the seized milk to determine whether adulteration was involved and if any other harmful substances were present in the product.
Concerns Over Food Safety
Milk is one of the most consumed foods in Indian households, and adulteration is especially concerning because it is one of the most widely consumed foods in Indian households. Diluting milk with water not only reduces its nutritional value but can also lead to health problems if the water used is contaminated or unsafe.
Consumers are warned to watch out and to buy dairy products only from trusted sources, the authorities have said. Local authorities also urged citizens to report any suspicious products or any suspected cases of food adulteration to local authorities.
Police are still investigating whether the fake milk racket is in place, and they want to stop and catch adulterated products before they reach consumers.
